Avian flu threat continues in Australia

While there have been no further outbreaks in Australia over the past week, avian influenza controls remain in place where previous cases have been recorded. New outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are reported in Russia and Taiwan.

(mashi_naz | Bigstock)
(mashi_naz | Bigstock)

Australia’s animal health agency has officially recorded no new avian influenza outbreaks over the past week. However, consequences of the earlier six avian flu cases in the state of Victoria are described as “significant” in a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. More than 400,000 head of poultry have been culled to prevent the further spread of the infection, and a number of countries have restricted imports of Australian poultry products.

Weather conditions and presence of a large number of waterfowl provide favorable conditions for the spread of the virus.

With no signs of further outbreaks, authorities in Victoria continue to manage the aftermath of the earlier outbreaks.

Because of the ongoing threat of further outbreaks, Victoria’s chief veterinary office has extended a livestock housing order. All poultry — in whatever size of flock — in the control areas in Golden Plains Shire must now be kept housed until September 26.

Following the detection of the H7N7 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus at one free-range egg farm on July 24, the virus was found at three more premises. One of these had no livestock, and was used for composting of poultry wastes.

Depopulation of the birds at all three affected farms is now complete, according to the official report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Disposal of the carcasses is ongoing, while surveillance within and outside the restricted continues.

A total of more than 435,000 poultry were affected in these three HPAI outbreaks.

Two low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses have also been detected in Victoria over the past month.

At two linked turkey farms, an H5N2 LPAI virus was found in flocks that have also since been depopulated, and disposal is complete.

Most recently, authorities confirmed the presence of an H7N6 LPAI virus at a commercial emu farm. This followed signs of disease in young birds only. According to the latest report to the OIE, there continues to be no sign of active infection in the breeding birds or those aged two years, which graze separately on other areas of the property.

Russia confirms HPAI in more poultry, wild birds

In the Urals and Siberian federal district of Russia, an HPAI virus of the H5 family has been detected in wild birds for the first time in more than three years. It was found in four swans found dead in Tuymen oblast at the end of August.

This discovery points to the possible source of an H5 HPAI virus that has now been found in 28 poultry flocks in the same federal district over the past month.

Almost 970 poultry were involved in the most recent eight outbreaks to be reported to the OIE. They belonged to backyard flocks ranging in size up to 350 birds. Four of these flocks were in Omsk oblast, which is in the Siberian district. Previous outbreaks have been confirmed there, while the other cases were the first recorded in Tuymen oblast.

So far, all four Russian regions where outbreaks have been confirmed — Omsk, Kurgan, Chelyabinsk, and Tuymen — border Kazakhstan.

Two additional outbreaks in Taiwan

In early September of 2019, Taiwan registered its first HPAI outbreak linked to the H5N5 virus variant.

During the third week of August, further cases were reported to the OIE by the Council of Agriculture. Latest to be affected were a flock of 4,666 meat ducks at Taixi in Yunlin county, and a small group of native chickens at the Wanhua slaughterhouse in Taipei city. All the affected birds have been culled and destroyed.

The latest cases bring the total outbreaks to 45 since the emergence of this new strain in the territory.

LPAI detected in more South African ostriches

An LPAI of the H7 subtype has been detected in commercial ostriches at two more locations in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Affected birds showed no symptoms.

According to the official report from the agriculture department to the OIE, three cases were found among 109 birds at Oudtshoorn, and a further five cases out of 202 ostriches at Mossel Bay.

These latest cases bring the total so far to three outbreaks. In July of this year, the virus was detected for the first time since May of 2019 in another Mossel Bay ostrich flock.

View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.

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